The National tribune., 1887-06-16
FIGHTING THEM OVER.
What Our Veterans Have 10 Say About
Their Old Campaigns.
"OLD ABE
An Authentic Sketch OF the Proud Bre OF tho sth
Mis-

an Authentic Sketch OF the PfOud birc OF INC cih
Wis.
EDITOR NATIoNAL TRIBUNE: ] see many
paragraphs concerning - old Abe.' the eagle of
the 9th Wis., but none Of them correspond with
the one we have that was written at the close
of the war by ;. w. Martin, Of Madison, Was
We have a picture Of Old Abe standing on a
cannon and we think great deal OF ~. The
facts as given by Mr. Martin are ms follows:
Old Abe was captured in the Spring OF 1851,
in Chippewa County, Wis, by ge-mah me-
ge-zhig, an Indian of the Lake Flambcau tribe,
son of Ahmose, the Chief oil that tribe, or band,
of Chippcwas The Indian sold the eagle 10
Mr. ID. MeCann for one bushel Of corn. Mr.
Mccain decided that his eagle shonld go TO the
wars lie took him TO Eau Claire-the eagle
being then about two months old-and sold
him for s. 80 10 Co c, 9Th Wis. The eagle was
soon mustered into the United States service
by putting around his neck red, white aud
blue ribbons, aud on his breast roset OF the
same coorS.
The company. commanded by Capt. J. L.
Perkins, with James McIiennis as Eagle
Bearer" left for Madison ON the Sth of Sep
TENDER, reaching Lacrosse in the evening OF
the next day. Tho fact that a company was
coming with live eagle brought great crowd
10 the wharf salute from the LIST Wis. bat
terry was fired followed by cheers from the
crowd and soldiers" The eagle! The eagle /!
Sept. s. the company marched to Camp RAN
dali, the baud playing Yankee Doodle "
amidst great shouting from the 9TH Regiment
and part of the Sth. The company entered the
gate and the eagle as 10y instinct, spread ms
wings, took hold of one OF the small flags at
tached TO his perch in his bealS, and carried it
in that position 10 the Colonel's quarters. The
excitement knew no bounds, and shout after
shout was heard from the crowd. Deep and
n
charmed life.
In camp he was visited by thousands, and
among them were the highest digntaries OF
civil and military lite. Capt. Perkins named
him Old Abe" in honor OF President Lincoln.
by vote of the company-the Eau Claire
Badgers its name was changed 10 Tau
Claire Eagles" and 10y general expression OF
the people the sth Wis. was called the Eagle
Regiment"
ON Oct ~ the Eagle Regiment left camp
Randall. At Chicago Old Abe attracted great
attention. The regiment arrived at St. Louis
on the morning of the l4th, and while march.
ing through the street the eagle broke from his
perch. flew mp mHiestiCally, aud alighted upon
one of the aristOcratic buildings of the city
The whole regiment was thrown into great cN'
element for fear he would never return. dc
came down at his pleasure and was secured Il
the boys gentleman IN ST. Louis offered tho
company $500 for him. AT Benton Barracks
the regiment was favored with speeches from
Secretary Cameron and Gen. Thomas who
highly complimented their appearance, OLD
Abe getting his usual share King or Queen
never received more attention than did OLD
Abe. Soldiers say his feathers are scattered al
over the Union. They were sought with such
eagerness and so great was the demand that al
one time he looked bare and deformed. TIL,
company finally determined that there should
moi another feather be taken ont
After fighting rebels here and there guard
ing prisoners, and securing the country over
large extent of the Mississippi and Ohio Val
leys, everywhere hailed rs the omen of victory
the eagle with his war-begrmed compatriot.
occupied the riRe-pits at Mount Pleasant neal
New Madrid and Island No 10, remaining Their,
several weeks. On the Sth of April, '62 ia,
Eagle regiment assisted in the capture of 6,00C
rebels at Island No. TO- For the gallantry dis
played ON this occasion Gen. Pope ordered
" New Madrid and Island No. 10" to be in
scrbed on all the banners of the brigade, undo
one of which Old Abe rode more dignifed thar
ever IN the estimation Of his admirers.
The regiment was ordered 10 lie down at tn
battle of Pennington. near Corinth. Old Alb
could not be kept on his perch, aud down b,
went on the ground and remained there unit
they were ordered to arise, when with out
spread wings he resumed his place. and re
manned there until the close of the battle. A
this battle his favorite Captain was mortal,
wounded, and Lieut.. V. Wolf took command O
the company. Gen. Thomas was making
brief speech 10 the army, and as his eye glance'
over the serried ranks he caught view of OIL
Abe, whom he had not seen since the greetin
at ST. Louis. Inspired 10y the thought that th
eagle was then the emblem of universal liberty
he remarked that all the men present wer
strangers TO him, but j see one familiar pei
sonage at least, he added; :" that majestic bir
OF the sth Wis.,, the emblem of American free
dom"
Old Abe was seen in all his glory when tn
regiment was engaged in battle. At such time
lac was always found in his place at the hea
of Co. G. ln the midst Of the roar of cannon
the crack OF muskets and the clouds Of smok,
Old Abe, with spread pinions, would Jump u
aud down on his perch, utteriDg wild screams
The hercer and louder the storm of battle, IN
fercer. wilder aud louder the screams Oh
Abe was with the command in nearly all OF il
many battles and skirmishes
ON the 18th Of June, 1864, Old Abe, with IN
veteran boys, started for home on furlOugl
aud after the expiration of the furlough =,
turned with the regiment 10 the front Whe
The veterans were mustered out at Memphis
WAS there decided that Old Abe should be give
10 the State Of Wisconsin. They arrived /
Madison on the 22d, and ON the 10Th Old Al
was received by the Governor from Capt VOL
The cannon on which he stands was capture
by the llth Wis. at Shiloh.-MARY BoLEi
kiToQua, Wis.
SEDGWICK'S DEATH.